An Ontario cottage closing checklist should move in a fixed order: protect the water system from freezing, remove food and shut down non-essential appliances, secure the property, store batteries and electronics correctly, then confirm what—if anything—still needs electricity after you leave. The exact electrical steps differ depending on whether hydro stays connected or has already been disconnected. Use the branch checklist below and follow equipment manuals, Hydro One guidance and Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) advice for your property.
What Should Be on an Ontario Cottage Closing Checklist?
A complete closing plan covers water, electricity, food, security, winter monitoring and documentation. Do the jobs that can cause expensive freeze or electrical damage first, then move to convenience tasks.
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Water: shut off the supply or pump, drain the system as required, and winterize fixtures according to your plumbing setup.
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Food: empty perishable food, clean the refrigerator/freezer and decide whether they will be unplugged.
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Electrical: identify circuits and appliances that do not need to remain energized.
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Heat: follow the heating system's manufacturer instructions and any insurance/property requirements.
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Security: lock windows and doors, document the property condition and confirm any alarm/camera plan.
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Batteries/electronics: follow the device manufacturer's temperature and storage guidance rather than leaving rechargeable equipment in unknown winter conditions.
Hydro One publishes a dedicated seasonal cottage closing checklist, and ESA's cottage safety guidance is useful for electrical shutdown decisions.
Do the shutdown in a written sequence and record what was intentionally left energised. That makes spring reopening safer and helps someone else understand the cottage if they must visit during winter. Treat electrical, water, food and security tasks as separate systems rather than one last-minute walk-through.
Start With Water, Plumbing, and Freeze Prevention
Water is usually the first system to address because trapped water can freeze and damage pipes, fixtures, pumps and appliances. Shut down and drain the system according to how your cottage is plumbed; do not assume one generic sequence works for every well, pump, water heater, dishwasher or seasonal line.
Hydro One's seasonal closing guidance tells owners to switch off the water pump and hot-water heater and drain water tanks and pipes where the cottage is being winterized. If your plumbing includes components you do not know how to drain, use the dedicated winterizing cottage plumbing guide and the equipment manufacturer's instructions rather than improvising.
Do not energize an empty electric water heater. If you are uncertain about plumbing antifreeze, pressure systems or winter heating requirements, use a qualified local professional.
Do not rely on room heat alone to protect plumbing if the cottage may lose power. Follow the plumbing system's winterisation method, including pumps, tanks and fixtures that can trap water, and use professional help where the system is unfamiliar or difficult to drain completely.
Shut Down Food, Appliances, and Non-Essential Electrical Loads
Remove food that should not remain in an unoccupied cottage, then shut down appliances that have no winter function. Hydro One's closing checklist advises emptying and unplugging the refrigerator/freezer when they will not be used, cleaning them and leaving the doors propped for airflow.
For the electrical panel, identify branch circuits rather than flipping switches at random. Hydro One advises turning off selected breakers for mechanical systems and appliances you will not need over winter when the main service is being kept on. ESA also recommends unplugging or switching off appliances and checking for damage to electrical devices.
Do not perform panel modifications or wiring changes as part of a seasonal checklist. ESA states that electrical work must comply with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, and work that requires a Licensed Electrical Contractor should be left to one.
Secure the Property and Prepare Batteries/Electronics for Winter
Before leaving, make the cottage easy to inspect later. Photograph key rooms, the plumbing shutoffs, electrical-panel state and any equipment that remains powered. Lock windows and doors, remove valuables and confirm how a neighbour, property manager or monitoring service would contact you after a storm.
Rechargeable batteries deserve a separate storage decision. Do not assume an unheated cottage is acceptable storage for every battery pack, power station, camera or sensor. Check the manufacturer's specified storage temperature and state-of-charge guidance. If the expected indoor temperature falls outside those limits, remove the equipment for winter storage.
If cameras or security sensors remain, document their load and backup strategy separately instead of leaving a large power station connected without a purpose. The goal is a known winter configuration, not "everything plugged in just in case."
After closing, keep the checklist and photos. They give you a reference for the cottage spring opening checklist and make it easier to identify what changed over winter.
Ontario Cottage Closing Checklist: Hydro On vs Hydro Already Off
Use the correct branch before you arrive for closing day. The tasks overlap, but a cottage that still has hydro can use normal pumps, lights and tools during shutdown; a cottage whose service is already off needs a temporary energy plan for those final tasks.
| Closing task | If hydro stays on | If hydro is already off |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting | Use normal lighting; switch off unneeded circuits before leaving | Bring battery lighting first so work does not start in the dark |
| Water pump / draining | Complete pump-dependent steps before switching its circuit off | Confirm whether draining can be completed without the electric pump; do not improvise wiring |
| Fridge/freezer | Empty, clean and unplug if not needed over winter | Bring cleaning lighting/power only if necessary; food should already be removed |
| Tools / vacuum / small appliances | Finish jobs before shutting down their circuits | Use only compatible portable tools/loads within battery output limits |
| Security / monitoring | Leave only the circuits intentionally required by the monitoring plan | Use a dedicated, calculated winter backup plan if the devices must remain active |
| Final electrical state | Follow Hydro One/ESA guidance for your service configuration | Do not reconnect service or hard-wire temporary power yourself |
If hydro will be disconnected before you finish all work, plan the remaining tasks in the dedicated guide to powering cottage shutdown day.
What Still Needs Power on Shutdown Day?
Usually less than you think. List only the loads that help you finish the closure: lights, phone charging, a small vacuum, compatible tools or a pump if the plumbing procedure requires it. Then total the watts and watt-hours before choosing a portable system.
The Elite 200 V2 is currently listed at 2,073.6Wh and 2,600W, giving more energy for a longer or tool-heavy shutdown day. The Elite 100 V2 is listed at 1,024Wh and 1,800W and is the smaller class. Neither should be connected to hard-wired cottage circuits without an installation method. Match portable loads to output and energy needs, and use a qualified electrician for building wiring.
Final walk-through: before locking the door, photograph the water shutoff position, panel state and any thermostat or monitoring setting that remains active. Record the closing date and who has a key. If hydro remains connected, sign up for available outage alerts and monitor unexpected electricity use; an unexplained winter load can signal equipment that was left on or a system problem worth checking.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I close my Ontario cottage for winter?
Close early enough to winterize water and heating systems before sustained freezing conditions can damage them. The timing depends on location, building design, plumbing and how the property is heated, so use local forecasts and your equipment requirements rather than a single province-wide date. Use local freezing risk, building design and plumbing condition rather than a fixed calendar date.
What cottage plumbing should be drained?
Drain the systems specified by your plumbing setup, which can include supply lines, water tanks, pumps and water-using appliances. The exact sequence is system-specific; use equipment manuals or qualified help when you are unsure. Photograph the final valve and shutoff positions so the spring reopening sequence starts from a documented state.
What if the hydro is already disconnected when I close the cottage?
Bring enough portable power for the remaining lights, communications and compatible tools, but do not improvise a connection to the cottage wiring. Finish any pump-dependent winterizing before disconnection when possible.
Can I leave batteries and electronics in an unheated cottage?
Only if the manufacturer's storage-temperature and state-of-charge guidance covers the temperatures the cottage may reach. Otherwise, remove the equipment and store it in an appropriate environment.
Conclusion
Close an Ontario cottage in system order: water first, then food and non-essential electrical loads, security, winter electronics and the final power state. The hydro-on/hydro-off branch prevents last-minute improvisation and leaves a clear record for spring reopening. A documented final state makes spring reopening easier and reduces the chance that an intentionally energised circuit or stored battery is forgotten. Use it as the starting point next spring.